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MAY 22, 2000

Churches throughout Canada are losing the battle over thousands of lawsuits filed by Canadian aboriginals even before many reach the courts. Rising costs from responding to the suits have forced churches into bankruptcy. The lawsuits stem from allegations of physical and sexual abuse, as well as cultural supression.

The federal government gave churches control over residential schools which attempted to assimilate Native children. The schools were in operation from the 1880s until the early 1970s.

Get the Story:
Catholic order says lawsuits are ruinous (CP 5/22)

Related Stories:
Elders walk across Canada (First Nations 5/9)
Children used as guinea pigs (First Nations 04/26)

Relevant Links:
The Anglican Journal - Contains a special report about experiments on aboriginal children and the church's involvement.